Stop the bleeding, states tell Federal Labor

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Senior Victorian and NSW Labor figures are telling their federal
colleagues to resolve the leadership crisis quickly to stem the
hemorrhaging of support.

As polls yesterday showed Labor's and Mark Latham's support
plummeting and strong public backing for Kim Beazley, Victorian
Premier Steve Bracks said: "I, like other state leaders . . . call
on the federal party to act quickly to make sure they can work
together to resolve these issues, because clearly, this is having
an impact more broadly.

"You can't just assume that these things can work themselves
out. You've got to make sure you put a full stop to it, and I'm
urging them to put a full stop to it and I'm urging them to do that
as quickly as possible."

Mr Bracks would not be drawn on whether Mr Latham was still the
right man for the job.

NSW ALP president Ursula Stephens said the leadership should be
sorted out "if possible before Parliament resumes" on February
8.

"While everyone is talking about this, we're a laughing stock as
an opposition," Senator Stephens said yesterday.

The comments followed NSW Premier Bob Carr's weekend warning
that "the impression of a vacuum" was hurting Labor and "the sooner
it's resolved the better". Queensland Premier Peter Beattie said
yesterday his pre-Christmas view that caucus had to support Mr
Latham or dump him had not changed, and promised to say more
today.

Mr Latham has said he will not return to work until Australia
Day. Supporters and critics now believe he should clarify his
position - whether he will quit or try to fight on - before
then.

Acting leader Jenny Macklin made clear yesterday that Mr Latham,
who has suffered a second severe bout of pancreatitis, was still
sick. She said she had spoken with him on Saturday.

"He's still recovering and I certainly hope he does," she
said.

His critics, convinced his leadership is untenable, are busy
with the succession battle. Both Mr Beazley and Kevin Rudd have
been ringing colleagues in the past few days.

Mr Beazley is telling caucus members that he will not challenge,
but will be a candidate if Mr Latham steps down. Mr Beazley argues
he would be a unifying force. He is telling colleagues he does not
believe in a "two-term strategy" - he thinks Labor can win next
time.

Mr Rudd yesterday left for Indonesia. Before flying out he met
NSW ALP secretary Mark Arbib, who told him the NSW Right was
waiting for Mr Latham to state his intentions and had made no
choice between Mr Beazley and Mr Rudd, both from the Right.

Senator Stephens said NSW Right members of the federal caucus,
who meet on Wednesday, are to get a report on Mr Latham's health
from Joel Fitzgibbon.

Opposition Senate whip George Campbell, from the Left, said
caucus "needs to deal with the leadership as early as practicably
possible".